Section 19.73. Licenses.

 

(1)   General restrictions.

(a) Requirements. No person may rehabilitate wildlife unless he or she possesses a valid license pursuant to s. 169.24 , Stats.

(b) Transferability. A rehabilitation license is not transferable.

(c) Reporting. The licensee shall notify the department within 7 days of any change of name, address, telephone number, associated federal permit status, substantial changes to facility, a decision to discontinue as a sponsor or wildlife rehabilitation activities before license expiration.

(2)   Basic license.

(a) Requirements. An applicant for a basic license shall meet all of the following requirements:

1. Possess a signed sponsorship agreement stating an advanced licensee is willing to mentor the applicant's wildlife rehabilitation activities.

2. Possess a signed consulting veterinarian agreement stating a veterinarian, licensed to practice in Wisconsin or state of residence, is willing to consult and assist with care and treatment of wildlife being rehabilitated.

3. Pass an examination meeting the requirements of s. NR 19.75 .

4. Allow an inspection of facilities to assure that the applicant's facilities meet the requirements of s. NR 19.77 .

(b) Restrictions. Basic licensees may not possess any of the following:

1. Federal migratory birds or federal or state endangered or threatened species unless authorized by appropriate federal and state permit.

2. Mammals belonging to the family cervidae (deer, elk, and moose) or other harmful wild animals designated under s. 169.11 , Stats.

3. Species of bird belonging to the order ciconiformes (vultures, bitterns and herons), falconiformes (hawks, eagles, harriers, osprey, kites and falcons) with the exception of American kestrel, the order Strigiformes (all owls), with the exception of saw-whet and screech owls or the families gruidae (cranes) or gavidae (loons).

(c) Euthanasia. Euthanasia may only be performed under direct supervision of the sponsoring advanced licensee or consulting veterinarian.

(d) Volunteers. Basic licensees may not list volunteers on their license.

(3)   Advanced license.

(a) Requirements. Applicants shall meet all of the following requirements:

1. Possess a basic evaluation form signed by the applicant's advanced licensee sponsor stating that the applicant has been a licensed basic rehabilitator for a minimum of 2 years and has satisfactorily engaged in the practice of wildlife rehabilitation.

2. Possess a signed consulting veterinarian form stating a veterinarian, licensed to practice in Wisconsin or licensee's state of residence, is willing to consult and assist with care and treatment of wildlife being rehabilitated.

3. Allow an inspection of facilities to assure that the applicant's facilities meet the requirements of s. NR 19.77 .

(b) Restrictions. Advanced licensees may not possess any of the following:

1. Species of wildlife not authorized by their license.

2. Federal migratory birds or federal or state endangered or threatened species unless authorized by the appropriate federal and state permit.

(c) Euthanasia. Euthanasia may be performed by the advanced licensee or consulting veterinarian.

(d) Volunteers. Volunteers may be authorized to assist with the rehabilitation of wildlife under the authority of an advanced licensee's license provided that all of the following conditions apply:

1. An updated list of volunteers assisting the advanced licensee is retained by the advanced licensee, and shall be provided to a department agent upon request.

2. Volunteers operating at a location other than the advance licensee's facility shall retain a copy of the advanced licensee's license which shall be provided to a department agent upon request.

3. Advanced licensees accept responsibility for the actions and activities of volunteers and shall be responsible for any violations by volunteers in violation of this chapter or ch. 169 , Stats.

4. Advanced licensees that utilize volunteers that are not assisting with wildlife rehabilitation activities under the direct supervision of the advanced licensee shall be responsible for the volunteers' facilities meeting the standards defined in s. NR 19.77 .

CR 03-029 : cr. Register December 2003 No. 576 , eff. 1-1-04; CR 08-021 : am. (3) (a) (intro.), r. (3) (e) Register November 2008 No. 635 , eff. 12-1-08; CR 09-024 : renum. (3) (a) 4. to be (3) (a) 3. Register May 2010 No. 653 , eff. 6-1-10.

Note

Wildlife rehabilitation sponsorship and veterinary agreements will be available upon request at DNR Service Centers, by writing the Bureau of Wildlife Management, PO Box 7921, 101 S. Webster St., Madison, WI 53707-7921 or by calling [phone]. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1